BMI/Body Fat % Horror!
Discussion
I was playing tennis at the gym last night and as the changing rooms were quiet, and I was getting changed near 'the machine', I decided to pop a pound in and see what it would say.
I had a go on it a few months ago and was surprised (pleasantly I guess) to see that all the readings for me were within the average recommendations. As someone who has always been passively fit (in so much that I do more exercise than a lot, yet not what can be called a lot of exercise), yet up until 5 months ago smoked 10 fags a day and was more often than not a daily drinker, it was a good result that time around.
So, last night i'm playing a lad 10 years my junior, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, plays tennis 7 days a week and is regularly coached and i'm 5-4 up in our one competetive set before I bottle it and let him win 7-5. But despite this i'm feeling good. Then I drop the pound in the machine...
Readings come out as follows (i'm 36):
Weight: 13st 3lb / 84.0kg
Height: 6' 0.0" / 1.83m
BMI: 25.1
Body Fat %: 28.7%
According to Wiki i'm obese WTF? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage
Yet I no longer smoke (regularly - odd 10 here and there, like fortnighly as the max i'd say), I have at least 3 dry days a week and drink less when I do drink (usually), and at 13st3 i'm as light as I have been for ages.
So I was positively pissed to see that despite what I consider a better lifestyle than last time on 'the machine', my body is in worse shape.
It's opened my eyes somewhat and concerns me, but I must confess that I like a pizza, and eat more choccy biscuits/cake at work than I probably should.
Do I just need to run my ass round the block a few more times to correct this situation???
I had a go on it a few months ago and was surprised (pleasantly I guess) to see that all the readings for me were within the average recommendations. As someone who has always been passively fit (in so much that I do more exercise than a lot, yet not what can be called a lot of exercise), yet up until 5 months ago smoked 10 fags a day and was more often than not a daily drinker, it was a good result that time around.
So, last night i'm playing a lad 10 years my junior, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, plays tennis 7 days a week and is regularly coached and i'm 5-4 up in our one competetive set before I bottle it and let him win 7-5. But despite this i'm feeling good. Then I drop the pound in the machine...
Readings come out as follows (i'm 36):
Weight: 13st 3lb / 84.0kg
Height: 6' 0.0" / 1.83m
BMI: 25.1
Body Fat %: 28.7%
According to Wiki i'm obese WTF? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage
Yet I no longer smoke (regularly - odd 10 here and there, like fortnighly as the max i'd say), I have at least 3 dry days a week and drink less when I do drink (usually), and at 13st3 i'm as light as I have been for ages.
So I was positively pissed to see that despite what I consider a better lifestyle than last time on 'the machine', my body is in worse shape.
It's opened my eyes somewhat and concerns me, but I must confess that I like a pizza, and eat more choccy biscuits/cake at work than I probably should.
Do I just need to run my ass round the block a few more times to correct this situation???
Edited by Baldy881 on Tuesday 13th August 23:21
Who really gives a s
t about BMI? BF% is the one to worry about, and if it was an electrical resistance reader and he'd just had a particularly sweaty tennis game/ drunk a load water then it will be wildly inaccurate.
Can you see any of your muscles? If not, your BF% is probably >25%. If you can, it's lower than that. Have it measured properly if you're really worried.
ETA:
This is a good indicator chart:
t about BMI? BF% is the one to worry about, and if it was an electrical resistance reader and he'd just had a particularly sweaty tennis game/ drunk a load water then it will be wildly inaccurate.Can you see any of your muscles? If not, your BF% is probably >25%. If you can, it's lower than that. Have it measured properly if you're really worried.
ETA:
This is a good indicator chart:
Edited by Chapppers on Tuesday 13th August 19:05
Some optimistic replies here chaps, that's good to hear! 
I did read about the electrical test for the BF% and how it can be affected by, say, doing it straight after exercise (which I did). Was a while ago I did the first test and don't still have the readout, but it gives you a guide on where you should be and I definitely remember being within the average scale for BMI and BF%.
Yeh I can see muscles, I'll admit to a bit of a podgy gut (have been slurping the juice for 20 years now so inevitable) but it doesn't show and people larger than me will often say I look lean when we talk weight/exercise. Although typing that I can see that doesn't mean a right lot!!
It's the body fat (my predictive text wanted to say 'noddy fart' then
) that seems to have risen considerably and I've probably indulged in more naughty foods than normal over recent months, albeit I do eat healthy dinners at work (pitta and salad, beans on toast, ryvita and cottage cheese etc plus at least 5 fruit and veg every day) and on an evening, but weekends seem to be a weakness!!
I did read about the electrical test for the BF% and how it can be affected by, say, doing it straight after exercise (which I did). Was a while ago I did the first test and don't still have the readout, but it gives you a guide on where you should be and I definitely remember being within the average scale for BMI and BF%.
Yeh I can see muscles, I'll admit to a bit of a podgy gut (have been slurping the juice for 20 years now so inevitable) but it doesn't show and people larger than me will often say I look lean when we talk weight/exercise. Although typing that I can see that doesn't mean a right lot!!
It's the body fat (my predictive text wanted to say 'noddy fart' then
) that seems to have risen considerably and I've probably indulged in more naughty foods than normal over recent months, albeit I do eat healthy dinners at work (pitta and salad, beans on toast, ryvita and cottage cheese etc plus at least 5 fruit and veg every day) and on an evening, but weekends seem to be a weakness!! grumbledoak said:
It says I am obese. I'm not though.grumbledoak said:
Just done this. It says BMI 25.1 and BF% 14.9. Also says waist to height ratio 47% so aside from the fact it reckons BMI over 25 is considered overweight I think I quite like the results of that one 
Tonight has made me realise that I just need to get to the gym a time or two more each week and drop some of the s
t I eat too all too often. I did manage a full day at work with no biccies or chocolate today, and there was some kicking about! Edited by Baldy881 on Tuesday 13th August 23:33
Baldy881 said:
Just done this. It says BMI 25.1 and BF% 14.9. Also says waist to height ratio 47% so aside from the fact it reckons BMI over 25 is considered overweight I think I quite like the results of that one
It is probably more accurate than that electric machine. Bin the sugary snacks and do some more exercise. Fatty. 
grumbledoak said:
That says i am over weight with less than 12% body fat... how does that work. Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff